AN IRISH CHRISTMAS Opens at Three Stages, 11/29

After not one, but two sold-out shows at Three Stages last December, the return of An Irish Christmas to Folsom was all but guaranteed. Here for five shows is a celebration of Christmas in Ireland, with glorious music, traditional dance, lively storytelling, and plenty of Irish soul. Featuring Riverdance star Kevin Horton and Magic of the Dance stars Ciaran Maguire (who debuted in Riverdance at the age of 16) and Collette Dunne, (winner of the 1999 All Ireland Championships), An Irish Christmas is “…music, dance, and song that leaves everyone breathless” (The Village News).

Tickets are $25-$39, Premium $49, Children $20 and maybe purchased online at www.threestages.net or from Three Stages Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Three Stages is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

In addition to the star power featured in the show, the Kerry Trad Orchestra—a five piece ensemble on fidil, uilleann pipes, button accordion, bodhran and guitar—and a host of actors and singers celebrate the rich traditions of Ireland. From butter-making (a cottage industry in Ireland, and an important part of the household economy), “Straw Boys” (ancient tradition of acting out old stories and songs had the men dressing in disguise and using stylized straw hats to hide their faces), the “brush dance” (a dance performed with a brush or broom; the women doing their daily housework would drop their brooms and break into dance as a welcome respite from their work, or it was a friendly, competitive dance between men and women), or many others, the roots of An Irish Christmas run deep.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College presents touring artists from around the world; partners with the best regional arts organizations, and supports productions by FLC students and faculty.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College is a $50 million performing and visual arts center that opened in February 2011. Located on the campus, Three Stages includes three intimate performance venues (850, 200, 100 seats), an art gallery, a recording studio, ample rehearsal and classroom space, a full service ticket office plus all the amenities of a state-of-the-art performance venue. Parking is free on weekends and for those buying tickets in advance.

A renaming of Three Stages is currently under way. The new name, Harris Center for the Arts, honors Dr. Brice Harris, Chancellor Emeritus of the Los Rios Community College District, for his many contributions to the Capital Region, including providing the vision and leadership that lead to the opening of this regional arts center.